Apple may launch M2 and M2 Pro chip in 2022Q4
Apple did not bring a new version of the Mac mini at the just-concluded “Peek Performance” event but released a new Mac Studio. There has been news that Apple will launch a new Mac mini with M2 series chips.
According to 9to5mac, Apple’s next-generation Mac mini will have two models, equipped with M2 and M2 Pro chips. It is rumored that the M2 has the same number of CPU cores as the M1, but the GPU part has 9 or 10 cores, the clock will be higher than the M1, the overall performance will be stronger, and it is rumored to be used on the redesigned MacBook Air and the new entry-level MacBook Pro. Apple was said to have planned to launch a Mac mini with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, but it was later abandoned in favor of a new Mac Studio.
According to Apple’s self-developed chip plan, the M2 series chips should be launched later this year. According to DigiTimes, the M2 chip will be manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm process, which will be higher than the existing 5nm process in terms of performance and energy efficiency. Since the M2 is more of an improved model based on the M1, even if the architecture is improved, the performance improvement may be limited. It is reported that Apple may choose to launch related products in the fourth quarter of this year.
TSMC’s N4 process is optimized based on the existing N5 process, which can provide more PPA (power, performance, area) advantages, but maintain the same design rules, design infrastructure, SPICE simulation program, and IP. Due to the further expansion of EUV lithography tool equipment on the N4 process, the number of masks, process steps, risks, and costs can also be reduced.
Although there has been news that the new MacBook Air will be equipped with an M2 chip, some analysts have pointed out that Apple may continue to use the M1 chip, only with changes in design and other configurations. In any case, the pace of Apple’s self-developed chips will still proceed as planned to completely replace Intel processors in the product line.
